Hornets outlast Novinger to claim third at Brashear Tourney

Monday

Feb 11, 2013 at 11:00 AMFeb 11, 2013 at 11:27 AM

Ryan Ronan @RyanRonan_KDE

BRASHEAR, Mo. – For the second time in a week the Atlanta boys were playing in a third place tournament game. This time against the Novinger Wildcats, the Hornets outlasted the under manned Wildcats as they won third place in the Brashear Tournament with a 65-57 win.

The Hornets used to big runs of 11-0 and 14-5 to help keep BHS at a distance. The first run came to start the game as Atlanta jumped out 11-0, however Novinger would answer as they closed the first on a 10-3 run.

That momentum would carry over into the second quarter as the Wildcats took their first lead at 19-17, with five minutes left in the half. Atlanta would re-take the lead going into halftime with a 30-29 lead.

It looked as if the Hornets had put the game away when they jumped out with their second run. Playing with only five players it looked as if Novinger had simply run out of gas, but not so. The ’Cats would never regain the lead, but the kept it within single digits and never let the Hornets get comfortable for the rest of the game.

“It was a victory and a struggle. They played really gutsy for only having five kids and I think they outplayed us. We were just able to do more things because we have more guys,” said Atlanta head coach Jason Daniels.

The Novinger five became the Wildcat four when Justin Klingsmith fouled out late in the fourth, putting an end to the Wildcat comeback.

“We just couldn’t get it done. We work hard and try to keep it up, but it gets hard only having five guys, but we have to keep our heads up going forward,” said Trent Rodman of Novinger.

Rodman led all scorers as he dropped 23 on the Hornets.

Playing with only five guys led to some funny interactions between players and coaches throughout the game, but Novinger head coach Shane Stocks isn’t looking for excuses.

“This is the third time we have played them this season. When we were playing with everybody we beat them by 20. A couple weeks ago we lost by three and tonight we were just terrible, we didn’t do very many things right tonight. The kids played hard but not very smart. We have to figure out how to play hard and smart,” said Stocks.

Two areas of the game where Stocks was most unpleased with were turnovers and free throw shooting. NHS gave it away 28 times, and shot 41 percent form the line, including giving up six points with missed free throws in the fourth quarter.“We dug ourselves a hole going into the fourth quarter, we just weren’t able to overcome the hole we got ourselves into,” said Stocks.

The Wildcats had been playing with six players for a short period of time, but due to MSHSAA rules it looks as though they will finish out the season as the Novinger five.

NHS had brought up a freshman but due to MSHSAA rules he is now out of illegibility or this season.

The road concludes this week as they travel to Scotland and host Brashear to close out the regular season.

The Hornets improve to 10-14 overall and will finish out the season on Thursday when they host Bevier.